Buildings

Buildings
with Great
with Great
By Jane M. Pacheco

Acoustics
Acoustics
Pointers
o Name of the Building
o Location of the Building
o Architect and Engineers of the Building
o Pictures of the Exterior and Interiors of the Building
o Details of the Building
The Exterior of the Building The Interior of the Building

Name of the Building

 Royal albert hall

Location
 Kenshington Gore
 South Kenshington
 London SW72AP
 United Kingdom
 Architects
“Engineers
• AR. Henry Young and
• AR. Darracott Scott
• AR. Francis Fowke Architects”
 Engineer
• Engr. Lucas Brother
 PASSWORD : **45

Details of the
Building
The hall was technically advanced, being the
world's first domed amphitheatre. It was built in
the Italianate style of architecture, which was
popular in Britain during the nineteenth century.
The dome is an 800-ton freestanding structure
made of glass and iron.
 PASSWORD : **45

Acoustic
The Royal Albert Hall's acoustics used to suffer greatly from
an unfortunate echo caused by the cove of its ceiling. Following
acoustic tests in the late 1960s, it was recommended that fiberglass
acoustic diffusers (nicknamed "mushrooms") be hung from the
auditorium ceiling to solve the problem.
 PASSWORD : **45

There were originally 135 mushrooms, but after more

advanced acoustic testing in 2001, 50 diffusers were removed and
the remaining 85 were reconfigured. The new arrangement
increased the density of mushrooms in the center of the ceiling, as
well as above and behind the stage, where there were previously
none, improving the quality and immediacy of sound for the
audience.
 PASSWORD : **45

Post Completion
From 1996 to 2004, the hall underwent a
renovation and development program that included
improving auditorium ventilation, adding bars and
restaurants, improving seating and backstage areas, and
rebuilding the Circle seating to provide more leg room and
better sight lines. Each project was designed to be as
discrete as possible in order to avoid disrupting the event
schedule.
 PASSWORD : **45

A new south porch was also built, which houses a

restaurant, ground floor box office, and a below-ground
loading bay. Its decorative tympanum was unveiled in 2003.
It features a mosaic that represents musical sound bursting
from the round central window.